At its Sept. 21 Study Session, the Beverly Hills City Council approved the continuation of outdoor dining tents for Spago and Nusr-Et through March of 2022, while also keeping the existing OpenBH program in place through the end of the calendar year. With outdoor dining in high demand and businesses reporting increased economic value in the program, the Council explored viable long-term conversions of OpenBH. Businesses such as restaurants, retail salons, and faith-based organizations participating in the program will be able to continue outdoor operations until Dec. 31, with expedited permits and fees waived.
The City Council directed staff to create a process for converting the temporary no-fee OpenBH program parklets and expanded outdoor dining uses into a long-term, fee-based program for review again this December. Considerations include timelines for approval of temporary to long-term conversions, which would be implemented throughout 2022 and creating a draft guide of design standards for parklets that would be developed using an existing contracted design firm, with outreach to stakeholders and OpenBH program participants. Additional considerations include the process for reviewing and approving parklets; code changes necessary to approve conversions; a new scaled fee structure depending on size of expansion; parklet fees and adjustments to open air dining sidewalk fees, including annual lease costs. In moving forward, the Council will split into two subcommittee groups: one would be focused on broader policy considerations, including code and fee structure changes, and another focused on design and operating standards.
